The Supreme Court has cleared the way for same-sex marriage in California by holding that defenders of California's gay marriage ban did not have the right to appeal lower court rulings striking down the ban.

The court's 5-4 vote Wednesday leaves in place the initial trial court declaration that the ban is unconstitutional. California officials probably will rely on that ruling to allow the resumption of same-sex unions in about a month's time.

The high court itself said nothing about the validity of gay marriage bans in California and roughly three dozen other states.

"We have no authority to decide this case on the merits, and neither did the 9th Circuit," Roberts said, referring to the federal appeals court that also struck down Proposition 8.

Four justices, Anthony Kennedy, Samuel Alito, Clarence Thomas and Sonia Sotomayor, said the court should have decided the constitutional question that was before it.

Earlier, the Supreme Court ruled Wednesday that legally married same-sex couples should get the same federal benefits as heterosexual couples.

The court invalidated a provision of the federal Defense of Marriage Act that has prevented married gay couples from receiving a range of tax, health and retirement benefits that are generally available to married people. The vote was 5-4.

Justice Anthony Kennedy wrote the majority opinion.

Same-sex marriage has been adopted by 12 states and the District of Columbia. Another 18,000 couples were married in California during a brief period when same-sex unions were legal there.

"Under DOMA, same-sex married couples have their lives burdened, by reason of government decree, in visible and public ways," Kennedy said.

"DOMA's principal effect is to identify a subset of state-sanctioned marriages and make them unequal," he said.

Scalia read his dissent aloud. Scalia said the court should not have decided the case.

But, given that it did, he said, "we have no power under the Constitution to invalidate this democratically adopted legislation."

The law was passed in 1996 by broad majorities in the House of Representatives and the Senate, and signed into law by Democratic President Bill Clinton. Since then, many lawmakers who voted for the law and Clinton have renounced their support.

Maryland Reacts

Maryland is one of twelve states and the District of Columbia where same sex marriage is legal.

Advocates on both sides of the issue reacted to today's decision.

Michele Smith, who will marry her partner Lee Norwood this September after 23 years of living together said she "just cried" when she heard that DOMA was declared unconstitutional.

Smith said the decision means the federal government will view her marriage that same as any other.

"It means that our relationship, our 23 year relationship is going to be recognized at the federal level. We're going to be able to file taxes together, and have all of the rights," Smith told WBAL News.

She says she especially likes the fact that she and Norwood will be able to collect federal survivor benefits.

"We never had that before, unless we had a will...we were not recognized as a couple. In the eyes of the federal law, we were just acquaintances."

Many of the lawmakers who were active in the debate over same sex marriage in Maryland weighed in on the decision.

"It is an incredible victory and a joyous day for Edie Windsor (plaintiff in DOMA case) and for the thousands of loving same sex families, including my own," said Montgomery County Delegate Heather Mizeur, who was one of the co-sponsors of same sex marriage legislation in the House of Delegates.

Baltimore County Delegate Emmett Burns, who led the opposition to the bill called the decisions "an atomic bomb to marriage and the family."

Burns believes that same sex couples from other states will come to Maryland to get married so they can get federal tax benefits.

"It's going to cause a huge HR problem."

Montgomery County State Senator Richard Madaleno, who is the only openly gay member of the state senate, said he got to see Justice Sonia Sotomayor, who was spotted walking in downtown Annapolis Wednesday afternoon after the Supreme Court session ended.

On his Facebook page, Madaleno said he walked up to Sotomayor and hugged her, thanking her for the DOMA decision.

"I just hugged Justice Sonia Sotomayor and thanked her for the DOMA decision. What serendipity that we cross on Main Street in Annapolis," Madaleno wrote.

In regards to the decision, Governor Martin O'Malley said in a statement:

ôToday, the United States Supreme Court ruled that the Defense of Marriage Act is unconstitutional as applied to states that recognize equal marriage rights.

ôThis ruling is a powerful step forward for those who live in states like Maryland. But the CourtÆs decisions make clear that there is still more work to do as a nation to achieve greater respect for the equal rights and human dignity of all.

ôAs Marylanders, and as Americans, we ultimately all want the same thing for our children: to live in a loving, stable, committed home protected equally under the law.ö

Read the statement from the Archbishop of Baltimore.

Archbishop William E. Lori, Archbishop of Baltimore, today issued the following statement responding to the U.S. Supreme CourtÆs decisions striking down Proposition 8 and the Defense of Marriage Act.

ôThe Supreme CourtÆs decisions to overturn Proposition 8 and the Defense of Marriage Act are the latest in a troubling trend of decisions by lawmakers, judges, and some voters which ignores the fundamental truth about marriage: it is the most valued, most important social unit in our society and as such is deserving of the protection and special recognition societies have afforded it throughout human history.TodayÆs decisions will undoubtedly have far-reaching consequences, most especially for children, and are another serious blow to the institution of marriage.

ôSadly, the Courts have chosen to follow at a time when our Nation most needs strong leadersùleaders who wish to promote strong families instead of dismantling them.In a society such as ours, the Catholic Church may indeed be counter-cultural in its defense and promotion of a family built on the foundation of a healthy marriage between a man and a woman.Our consistent teaching on marriage is reflective of our respect for the dignity of the human person and the belief that children have the best chance to succeed when raised by both a father and a mother.

ôTodayÆs decisions will also undoubtedly contribute to concerted efforts not just to redefine marriage but to dismantle it, efforts which represent a serious threat to religious liberty and conscience rights for countless people of faith.This threat to religious freedom is one of many, locally and nationally, that has prompted our current Fortnight for Freedom, which we hope will inspire people throughout the country to prayer, education, and action to preserve religious liberty.ö